By Kaye Nelson
Painting vivid images by creating beautiful music is a mixed metaphor that musician Kurt Bestor has learned to master.
As a child his mother once encouraged him to “play something that sounds like a sunrise.” Fans of Bestor know exactly what that means.
“He creates visual images as he plays his music – it”s very beautiful,” said Sherry Wheeler, a Kurt Bestor fan from Springville. “Sometimes he”ll give you a synopsis of what to think about and then while he”s playing you think about what he said,” and his music matches those images.
Bestor will give a holiday performance at UVSC tonight at 7 in the McKay Events Center. While he performs in many Christmas venues, this is his second annual holiday performance at UVSC.
Family night prices of $40 for six immediate family members will allow local fans of all ages to experience the magic of Bestor”s music again.
His holiday performance last year at UVSC was well attended.
“There were quite a lot of people there,” said Megan Laurie, assistant director of communications at UVSC. “It was very full because he was doing all of it for cancer survivors.”
As with last year”s performance, Bestor will acknowledge cancer survivors who attend the event by dedicating an original composition to them. The Central Utah Cancer Center serves as sponsor again this year.
Bestor”s performance will include the combined effort of many talented musicians. Laurie said Bestor will have 40 other musicians on stage with him, playing all kinds of instruments. This kind of multi-faceted performance provides delight for any audience member.
“He”s a favorite of everybody,” Wheeler said. “I can”t think of anybody who wouldn”t like him. His music is lively and has a lot of diversity to it.”
The visual aspect of his music contributed to a collaboration with the artist James C. Christensen. One of Christensen”s art pieces titled “Evening Angels” shows a whimsical collection of angels playing various instruments while floating in a night sky on a colorful ship. Bestor created an entire CD of musical selections based on this painting.
Christensen said of the angelic experience in the CD leaflet: “”Evening Angels” is one of my favorite paintings. As I was working on it, I got to wondering what the angel”s music would sound like. As I finished it, I couldn”t stop thinking about angel music. That”s where the idea of this … collaboration came from. The interesting thing is that I drew word pictures which he [Bestor] expressed in terms of music. It”s not just two artists approaching a subject from different directions. ”Evening Angels” has been a true collaboration.”
Bestor explained in the leaflet: “I came to know each of the angels, heard each of their instruments and discovered the realms both earthly and divine where the music took them.”
Besides his “Evening Angels” CD, Bestor has several Christmas CDs out and tonight”s performance will include many traditional holiday songs.
“Kurt performs a traditional Christmas show, with his own variation on Christmas favorites,” said Barbara Hammond, assistant dean for external relations for the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at UVSC. “He talks with the audience, with great interaction to keep young children entertained. At points during the show, the audience can sing along with Kurt.”
Conjuring up visual images while listening to Bestor”s holiday music will be a wonderful prelude to the rest of the holiday season, but being a part of the magic shouldn”t wait.
“He”s the best – he”s so talented,” Wheeler said. “His tickets will be sold out because you have to get them earlier – he”s very popular.”
For tickets call (801) 863-SHOW, (888) 844-7469 (outside Utah County) or any Smithtix outlet.
